Furnace-top.



W/TNECE' 5 F. 0. ROBERTS.

FURNACE TOP. APPLICATION TILED PEB.21, 1912.

Patented July 16, 1912.!

UNITED STATES IiA-TEN T OFFICE.

FURNACE-TOP.

To (lU-rF/lOi/i. it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of \Vynnewood, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnace-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to blast furnaces for the reductionof iron ore of the skip filled type which are provided with a centrally mounted bell-closed hopper or two such hoppers. The skip which introduces the mateof material in the furnace producing irregular working and a lack of uniformity in the furnace product. Material when passing from the skip into the hopper separates roughly into two port-ions, the coarse and heavy particles settling on the side of the dumping, while the ta-kea position in hopper nearer the dumping This irregularity persists in the furpoint.

' nace. It has beeriproposed to rotate successive hopperfuls of the charge thus sepa nace, thereby intermixing and placing oni it into the lower hopper or the furnace.

rated through different distribute about -the'furnace the irregularities of successive skip loads. It has also been proposed to placeeach skip load as a whole at a different point on one side of the furtpp of each skip load. I

It isthe object of my intention to intermix the coarse and fine and distribute it in'the other. the coarse and fine of each furnace in a ring about its entire circumference, thus producing a uniform distribution as to quality and quantity of each skip load and consequently of the lurality of skip loads which may be in the urnace at any time. In order to accomplish this mixing, I rot-ate the hopper into whicht-he material settles, either continuously or during such time as it is receiving material, or while it is receiving the material and while material is passing from result of. this is that both the coarser and finer portions of material lie about the en tire-circumference of-the hopper instead of only on opposite sides. In dumping, the coarser and heavier portions pass out freely Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 21, 1912. Serial No.

degrees and thereby of each skip load at first while the finer portion passes out more slowly, dribbling down and dropping mostly at one point. The effect, then, of the rotating receiving hopper is to distribute the coarser material about the hopper and then distribute the fine material about the circumference of the hopper making uniform filling in the hopper, which uniformity persists in the furnace. During this operation the bell of the hopper remains closed I and retains the material in the hopper. The material, after thus being mixed, may .be lowered in the lower hopper or into the furnace. During this discharge from the l receiving hopper, the hopper may be rotated i so that the ro-tary or centrifugal motion imparted to the material may increase and I continue the mixing.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1' form my invention may take and of the skips and chutes.

I have shown a furnace, 1, surmounted by a bell+closed hopper, 2, above which is placed a rotary hopper, 3, closed by a bell, 4;, androtated by a mot-or, 5, through the gearing, 6. I may provide stationary or adjustable chutes, 8, shown as oppositely disposed, to lead the material into the hopper from the skip of which there may be one or, preferably, two side by side as shown in F ig. 2 which alternately bring a loadof material to the furnace top. The material is brought to the skip cars, 7, alternately, from which it is dumped onto the chutes, 8, which directthe material into the stantly rotated during the dumping operation, thereby producing a mixture in the hopper. The bell, 4, may then be lowered in theordinaryway and the mixed charge delivered to the lower hopper, 2, during which time the hopper, 3, may-or may not be rotated. One terial may be assembled in the hopper, 2, and then chargedinto the furnace.

The receiving hopper, 3, may be rotated only while material is being delivered to it or also while material is passing from it or continuously during the operation of the furnace. The object of my invention might possibly be' accomplished if the receiving hopper be rotated only while material is passing from it.

In the apparatus shown in the drawing Patented July 16, 1912.

or more skip loads of 1113-,

top of the furnace in the hopper, 3, which is 0011- 2 1,03aea5 the material has a free and unimpeded a skip arranged to introduce a charge of passage from the. skip to the hopper. It is material spread out across substantially the not held in the chutes. Because of this Whole area of the hopper, means for closing freedom of movement, and the relative prothe hopper While receiving the material, and

5 portions and locations of the various parts means for rotating the hopper while recei,v 50

t of the apparatus, the material. settles coning the material.

tinuously on all sides of the center of the 6. 111 a furnace charging device, an unhopper. Even if the hopper were not roobstructed hopper, means for introducing a tated the material would take a position charge of material spread out across subcovering the bell in a ring or circle extendstantially' the whole area of the hopper, ing around the circumference of the hopper means foryclosing the hopper and holding and across its whole area. I have used the phrase in a ring in someot the claims to indicate this disposition of the material on all sides of the center of the hopper. The rotation of the hopper produces-a mix.-

t it closed while receiving material, means for rotating the hopper to ,intermix each skip l load in the hopper, and .means for introducing the mixed charge from the hopper into 60 the furnace in a ring.

ture of the material which makes up the 7. In a furnace charging device, a bell closed hopper mounted centrally of the furnace, means for introducing a skip load of are not essential. and nmnerous changes may material into the hopper continuously and 65 be made. in a ring, and means for rotating the hop- I claim as my invention: while. receiving the material.

n "l he' details of: the apparatus illustrated 1. In a furnace top, a centrally mounted S. In a"- fu'rnace charging device, a bell bell closed hopper, means for delivering closed hopper mounted centrally of the Eurmaterial spread out. across substantially the nace, means for introducing part of a ship 70 whole area of the hopper, and means for load of material into the hopper in a ring rotating the hopper while the material is and for introducing the" remainder of the being fed thereto and therefrom. skip load into the hopper, and means for 2. In a furnace "top, a centrally mounted rotating,,the hopper while receiving each bell. closed hopper, means for delivering part. i 75 material spread'out across substantially the 9. In a furnace charging device, a bell whole area of the hopper, and means for closed hopper mounted centrally of the furrotating the hopper while material. is being nace, means for introducing the coarse part ted; thereto. of a'skip load of material into the hopper 3. In a furnace top, a hopper, means for in a ring and for introducingthe tine part 30 delivering material thereto I in a. ring, and of the skip load into the hopper, and means means for rotating the hopper to intermix for rotating the hopper While receiving each the charge.-

4c. In. a furnace charging device, a hopper,

40 skip arranged to introduce a charge of material spire: l out across substantially the Whole area of the hopper, and means for rotating the hopper to intermix each strip load in the hopper.

art.

Signed at Philadelphia, this 15th day of February, 1912..

FRANK C. ROBERTS.

Witnesses J. DONALDSON PAXTON,

5. In a furnace clnirgim device, a hopper, i CLARENCE BUTLER.

a... Copies of this patent may be obtained "for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, v

Washington, D. 6-. 

